A spirited debate has broken out about the use of temporary labour programmes in Australia, but the simultaneous political cross-dressing by Labor and the Coalition on different policies reflects enormous confusion within as well as between the parties. Many in the community are apprehensive about the trajectory towards greater use of these schemes, but what has been missing in the hurly-burly of the debate is an anchoring principle to guide sensible policy.  

What follows is a guide to rebasing the policy debate on firmer ground, but first let me explain how the situation has evolved with a stylised model of developed countries.